A/N- Please note, this story is a love story for a bunch of people, but either way, it is primarily a love story, therefore pieces that don't necessarily contribute to furthering the romance are quickly fixed, i.e. Harry's relationship with his sister…not a lot of angst. Otherwise, enjoy, and review!
Chapter 6: Bonding and Learning
Harry looked around Snape's living room, in surprise. He'd always had a picture in the back of his mind of some sort of Medieval torture chamber. Instead he found himself in a bright and cheery room, it even had a window! And seated on the cream colored leather sofa was the twenty-two year old girl who claimed to be his sister. "Little one." Harry started for the twelfth or so time that day. He'd never heard his potions master speak so softly or affectionately to anyone. She looked up from her book. She stared so trustingly up at Snape, could she possibly know who he'd been?
Snape pointed to Harry and a twinkle sprang to life in her eyes. She removed the silver framed glasses that she wore and set aside the book. "Hello Harry."
"Hi." He shifted his feet, clearly nervous. "Um…Alathea?"
She smiled reassuringly. Harry remembered the way his mom had smiled in the picture in the photo album Hagrid had given him. She had his mom's smile. "Come sit with me and ask what ever you want." He scrambled to her side, before he remembered his professor. Snape's face wasn't hard, it was almost wistful. He nodded to Harry and sat at his desk, to Harry's surprise he put a pair of silver squared framed glasses on and began grading Slytherin essays. A light giggle turned Harry's attention back to his sister. "Think my father's quite the ogre do you?"
Harry blushed and began to stutter. "It's alright." Alathea told him with a shrug. "You're not the first student to think so, nor will you be the last." Harry blinked before shooting a nervous glance to the man that was paying them absolutely no attention. "Besides, he's very proud of his reputation. Works at it, you know? He's making you guys strong. Not to mention he can't very well profess devotion to the boy-who-lived and retain his cover for his spying now can he?"
"He's awful nice to the Slytherins." Harry couldn't help but mutter. He shot a frightened glance at his professor.
This time Snape sighed and looked up. He observed Harry over the top of his glasses. "Harry, you are here visiting your sister. I'm not going to take points away for what you say. Stop staring at me like some stupid wide eyed house elf. But if you must know, I do take points from Slytherin. I don't take them in front of the other students. Part of my job here is to try and keep the slytherins from becoming the Dark Lords loyal followers. When they're attacked in front of others they loose pride, when the loose their pride, they want to prove their power…see where I'm going with this?" Harry nodded. "Good. Now visit with your sister and leave me to grade in peace." He growled.
Which set Alathea to giggles again. She winked at Harry. "Ask away."
They talked for two hours when the bell that signaled lunch rang. Harry looked up at the clock in surprise. He looked back over to his sister. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed into a hesitant worry. "Do you want to come eat lunch with me? Meet my friends?"
"Really?"
Harry nodded. Then he looked over to Snape. "You know, if your dad doesn't mind you sitting at the Gryffindor table?"
Snape rolled his eyes. "Get out of here you two. And Thea, if you follow Harry around today, I'm sure Madame Hooch will let you ride a broomstick, and Minerva would probably love the chance to see how far you got with your transfiguration texts."
Alathea gave her father a kiss on the cheek. He waved her away gruffly, but even Harry could see the smile he was trying to hide. Then Harry and his sister, ran out of the dungeon, laughing like old friends.
